At different times throughout our life, my husband has had a fluctuating income. He has worked in the construction industry and in sales with commission only income. I know it can be difficult to budget and plan each month, when each month your income changes and sometimes drastically. We have had times when my husband made $7,000 in one month and then only $2,000 in another month. …

Budgeting is a basic tool for managing your finances. Unfortunately because of the negative connotation that most people have about budgeting we avoid it. We think of budgeting as restricting. We think of budgeting like extra work. I recently attended a leadership class where they taught if you know the “why” of what you are doing, then you will be better equipped to effectively complete whatever it is you are doing with purpose and direction, in knowing the why.…

I know when you are in debt, it can be difficult to face the numbers. I know people who will not open their mail, who just throw their bills in a drawer where they cannot be seen.

I have felt the pressure of debt, avoiding the numbers will not make it go away, or make you feel the burden any less. I know what it is like to lay in bed thinking about your debt, wondering if you made a payment, thinking about extra fees. You will find if you write it out and are at…

If you need help sticking to your budget the Envelope System works wonders. I first heard of the envelope sytem at my local church, then also after attending Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. It is a proven statistic that people spend more money when paying with credit cards and debit cards verses paying with cash. When you are paying with cash you are more likely to think about what you are purchasing.

When trying to save money or make your money go farther a great place to start is calling your current providers of cable, auto insurance, cell phone carriers, internet provider, etc.

Especially if your contract is up for renewal or close to renewal it’s the perfect time to call around for other quotes. If you are pleased with your current provider and do not want to change do not be afraid to mention other competitors prices or promotions, most companies will…

I used to spend around $400 a month on groceries and another $200 a month on household products (toiletries, diapers, laundry detergent, etc.) Since I began couponing I spend $300 a month on both groceries and household items together and some months I only spend $200 for our family of 5.

Four years ago a group of my friends at church started couponing and telling me how much money they were saving on groceries. I was excited to get involved and give it a go. I…

A few weeks ago I was on my friend Diana’s (www.PantryOverFlow.com) radio show. It was so much fun! You can visit her site and listen to her radio show daily. She asked me to share some travel tips here is some of what I shared.

I love Valentine's Day. I love going out. I love good food. I love romance. I love chocolate. The list goes on...

But sometimes the pressure of finding a babysitter for that one particular night, then heading out to an expensive restaurant only to find it will be a 1 1/2 hour wait time just to eat, seems like more trouble than it's worth. Last year, we decided to do something different - celebrate at home - family style! We still went out, but just chose a different…

I'm not sure what has gotten into me, but I've been in a particularly crafty mood as of late. I blame the week and a half of rain... Regardless, I have been searching around my house for items to either re-purpose or update. It's amazing what a difference some scrapbook paperand some paint can do to boring,…

Welcome to the first post in my new Groceries on a Shoestring series! Today I'm talking about how to set your grocery budget.

Setting a grocery budget can be a challenge for any family. If you're dealing with financial issues that mean you need to cut costs, it can be even harder. Cutting costs can be a challenge while you're trying to maintain healthy foods. As we get further into the series, we will be discussing ways to make your meals healthier while still keeping your…

Purchasing Eau De Parfum travel size versions of high end fragrances are a perfect alternative for perfum lovers on a budget. These smaller versions are typically called Travel Purse Sprays, Roll-Ons, Rollerballs, or Portable Fragrances. They range in size from 0.20 to 0.68 ounces. Price can range from $18 to $70, depending on the brand and quantity. Some manufactures sell their travel size versions in pairs or more -- not a necessary purchase if you're trying to budget. Remember, when it comes… Continue

I thought that maybe on this Toddler Tuesday, I would travel off the beaten path of cute baby pics and videos, to bring you a few tips regarding making your own baby food at
home. You see, somewhere along the way I got it into my head that I
would never serve Riley any store bought baby food. I had always heard
how expensive that stuff was and how easy making your own baby food
really is. Also, I…

Greetings everyone! I hope you're having a great week so far. I wanted to write this post because I decided to take this blog in a little different direction. Actually, a few days
out of every week, I am going to be dedicating myself to helping those
of you out there do a little better in this tough economy, by sharing
some tips that I have found to be EXTREMELY FRUITFUL! I want to turn
you on to a way to stretch your…